MinhLe

APUSGovernmentandPolitics
PrincetonReview
6January2015

THEFEDERALBUREAUCRACY

GeneralFacts
I.

Bureaucracybelongtoexecutivebranch:
becauseitexecutethelaws,providedefense,
andadministersocialprograms.
II.
4millionbureaucrats
areemployedbyfederalgovernment,
2.7millioncivilians,1.4
millionmilitary.
III.
30%
ofthecivilianemployeesworkfor
DepartmentofDefense
IV.
15%
workforsocialagenciessuchas
SocialSecurity&Welfare
V.
BureaucratisNOTelected,
the15cabinetsecretariesareappointedbythePresidentwith
consentofSenate
VI.
DepartmentofDefense:
thelargestdepartment,administeredbySecretaryofDefensewho
reportedtothepresident.
VII.
JointChiefsofStaff:
fiveuniformedleadersintheDepartmentofDefensewhoadvisethe
SecretaryofDefense,theHomelandSecurityCouncil,theNationalSecurityCouncilandthe
PresidentoftheUnitedStatesonmilitarymatters.
VIII.
OfficeofPersonnelManagement:
administercivillawsandregulations,andinchargeof
hiringfederalagencies
IX.
MeritsSystemProtectionBoard:
investigatechargeofcorruptionandincompetence,and
protectwhistleblowers
History
I.
Spoilssystem:
thebureaucracywasoriginallydrawnfromupperclasswhitemalesby
PresidentAndrewJackson
II.
PendletonAct(1883):
createdafederalservicebasedonmerit,notloyaltytotheparty
III.
HatchAct(1939):
arevisionallowbureaucratstojoinpoliticalparties,makecampaign
contributions,anddisplaypoliticaladvertisinginformofbuttonsandbumperstickers
IV.
HatchActprohibit
bureaucratsfromrunningpublicofficeatanylevel,solicitcampaign
fundsfromsubordinates,ormakepoliticalspeeches
CurrentStatistics
I.
3%ofcivilianjobs
arefederalgovernmentemployeesanditremainedconstant
II.
Blockgrants
arefundinglocalandstategovernment,thereforeledtoan
increase
instate
jobs
III.
Federalmandates
havealsoshiftresponsibilitymoretolocalandstategovernment
TheFederalBureaucracy:OrganizationandKeyFunctions
I.
TheCabinetDepartments:

II.

A. Thereare15cabinet
departments,headedbyasecretary(DepartmentofJusticeis
headedbyattorneygeneral),allchosenbypresidentandapprovedbySenate
B. TreasuryDepartment:
isresponsibleforprintingpapermoney
C. Cabinetsecretaries
developstrongloyaltytotheirdepartments,andareusuallynot
closepresidentialadvisors

IndependentRegulatoryAgencies
A. Categories:
governmententitiesthatdonotfallwithin15cabinetdepartmentsare
dividedintotwocategories(1&2)andsomeothers:
1. Independentagencies:
ordinarybureaucracieswithbroadpresidential
oversight
2. Regulatoryagencies:
regulatorycommissionsareindependent,watchdogof
thefederalgovernment
3. Quasilegislativeagencies:
independentagencieswhohavethe
responsibilitytofillinthegapofgenericlaw
4. Quasijudicialagencies:
independentagencieswhoareresponsibleforrule
enforcementandpunishviolators
5. Clashofspecialinterests:
membersofCongressdonothavethescientific
knowledgeonenvironmentalissues.Theexpertsworkinenforcingagencies
havethatknowledge.Environmentalistsandpetroleumindustrycanclash.
B. Independentregulatoryagencies:
afewexamples
1. InterstateCommerceCommission(ICC)
2. SecuritiesandExchangeCommission(SEC)
3. NationalLaborRelationsBoard(NLRB)
4. FederalReserveBoard(FRB)
5. FoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)
6. FederalEnergyRegulatoryCommission(FERC)
7. OccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministration(OSHA)
C. Independentregulatoryagencies
areledbysmallcommissionsappointedbythe
presidentandconfirmedbytheSenate.ThecommissionerscanNOTberemovedby
thepresidentduringtheirtermsofoffice.
D. FederalReserveBoard:
1. Setmonetarypolicysuchasbankinterestrate,inflation,moneysupply,
adjustbankreserverequirements
2. Hasgreatindependence:canremovemonetarypolicyfrompoliticswithout
interferenceofpoliticalpartiesandinterestgroups
E. Monetarypolicy
referstomoneysupplyandinterestrate,controlbytheFederal
ReserveBoard

F. Fiscalpolicy
referstotaxingandspending,whichboththeexecutiveandlegislative
branchshareresponsibility

III.

IV.

Governmentcorporations:
amixbetweenprivatebusinessandgovernmentagency.Have
thefreedomofactionandsupportthemselves,thoughsomemustrelyongovernment.
A. TennesseeValleyAuthority:
providenavigation,floodcontrol,electricity
generation,fertilizermanufacturing,andeconomicdevelopment
B. Amtrak:
thegovernmentcorporationcreatedtoproviderailroadpassengerservice,
hasnevermadeaprofitandmustaskCongressforsubsidiestokeepitselffrom
bankruptcy
C. U.SPostalService:
originallyacabinetposition,itisnowagovernment
corporation.Postofficehastocompetewithelectronicmessagingsystemand
deliverycompanies,hadtoincreaseitsfee.
D. CorporationofPublicBroadcasting:
producesandairsbothtelevisionandradio
program,fundbygovernmentandprivatesubsidies.Controversialbecausesome
objecttogovernmentinvolvedinprivatesectorcorporationsservice
IndependentExecutiveAgencies:
A. Theindependentexecutiveagencies
includemostofthenoncabinetdepartments
B. Example:
NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration(NASA),National
ScienceFoundation(NSF),EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),Government
ServicesAdministration(GSA)

WhoRunsRegulatoryAgencies?
I.

BoardofCommissioners
controlindependentregulatoryagencies,appointedbyPresident
withconsentofSenate.Termcanrangefrom314years.
II.
FederalReserveBoard(Fed):
itsBoardsranfor14yearsterm.CurrentlyrunbyBen
Bernanke:aBushappointee.
III.
AlanGreenspan:
previouslyheadtheFed,hesuccessfullycombateconomicdepressionin
Clintonera.However,hislegacycollapsedin200809duringtheeconomiccrisis.
Implementation&Regulation
I.
Implementation
canbreakdownfromconflictgoals,faultyprogramdesign,lackof
financialresources,fragmentationofresponsibilities
A. OfficeofHomelandSecurity:
wascreatedasaresponsetothe9/11tragedy.
Previously,homelandsecuritywasresponsibilityformultipledepartments
B. Congress
providefederalagencieswithgeneralmandates,allowthemtosetspecific
guidelinesforaproblem
II.
Regulation:
A. Munnv.Illinois:
theSupremeCourtupheldtherightofgovernmenttoregulate
businessesinthiscourtcase

B. CivilAeronauticsBoard:
wasbannedduring1984.DuringtheReaganandBush
administration,therewasamovementforderegulation.

TheThreeBranchesofGovernments
I.

II.

III.

PresidentandBureaucracy:
A. Appointments
presidentshavethepowertoappointsenioragencyheadsand
subhead
B. Limitedpower:
Senatehasthepowertoapprove,andagencyheadsdonotpursuea
president'spolicyagendaasaggressivelyastheirdepartmentsagenda
C. Executiveorder:
aorderorregulationissuedbythepresident.Itisbasedon
constitutionalorstatutoryauthorityandhavetheforceoflaw.
D. Economicpowers:
presidentmayusetheOfficeofManagementandBUdgettocut
oraddtoanagencysbudget
E. Congress
hasthesolepowertoappropriatefundstoanagency
CongressandBureaucracy
A. Legislativeoversight
isexercisedbyCongressoverthebureaucracy
B. Budgetcontrol:
settingasidefundsforeachagency
C. Holdhearings
andconductinvestigations
D. Reorganize
agenciesandsettingguidelinesforanagency
E. Spreadoutresponsibility
inordertopreventanyoneagencyfrombecomingtoo
powerful.
InterestGroupsandBureaucracy
A. Irontriangle:
analliancebetweenadministrativeagency,interestgroupand
congressionalcommittee.Eachmemberprovideservices,information,policyfor
others
B. Subgovernment:
anothertermforirontrianglebecausetheyareverypowerful
C. Issuenetworks:
policyexperts,mediapundits,congressionalstaffsandinterest
groupswhodebateonissue.Alsoknownasan
alliancenetwork.
D. President
oftenfillagencypositionswithpeoplefromanissuenetworkwhosupport
thepresidentsview.
E. Deregulation:
somepeopleclaimthatcompetitionofmarketplaceisenough,
regulatoryagenciesaretimeconsumingandredtape.Forpast25years,theICChas
phasedoutwithlittlenegativeimpacts.

BureaucraticStructure
I.

Peoplewithinabureaucracy:
A. Secretary:
appointedbypresidentandconfirmedbySenate
B. Undersecretary:
appointedbythepresidentwithoutSenateconfirmation
C. Replacement:
bothsecretaryandundersecretaryarereplacedeverypresidentialterm

II.
III.

D. SeniorExecutiveService:
belowsecretariesarethepersonneloftheSenior
ExecutiveService,appointedwithoutSenateconfirmation,responsivetopolicygoal
ofWhiteHouseandhelpbureaucratsimplementthepolicypreferences
Bureau:
divisionsofthedepartment
Departments:
A. DepartmentofState:
promoteU.Sforeignpolicyandworkwithinternational
bodies
B. DepartmentofTreasury:
promoteeconomicprosperity,collecttaxesandmaintain
governmentrevenue.WorkwiththeFederalReserveBoardinbailouts,borrow
moneyforgovernment,andFederalReserveBoardgiveitsprofittoTreasury
Department
C. DepartmentofDefense:
providingthemilitaryforcesneededtodeterwarand
protectthesecurityoftheUnitedStates,controlArmy,Navy,AirForce
D. DepartmentofJustice:
enforcejusticeandfederallaw.ComposedoftheFBI,DEA,
.Headedbyattorneygeneral,notasecretary.
E. DepartmentoftheInterior:
overseeBureauofLandManagement,U.SGeological
Survey,NationalParkService
F. DepartmentofAgriculture:
G. DepartmentofCommerce:
H. DepartmentofLabor:
I. DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices:
J. DepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment:
K. DepartmentofTransportation:
L. DepartmentofEnergy
:
concernedwiththeUnitedStates'policiesregardingenergy
andsafetyinhandlingnuclearmaterial.
M. DepartmentofEducation:
N. DepartmentofVeteransAffair:
O. DepartmentofHomelandSecurity:
ImmigrationandNaturalService(INS).
protectingtheterritoryoftheUnitedStatesandrespondingtoterroristattacks
.

CaseStudies
I.
II.
III.
IV.

CleanAirAct

(1970)
reduceautomobilepollution.Theautomobileindustrylobbiedhardto
defeatthebill,claimingtheycouldnotmeettherequirementwithinthetimeframe.Granted
CleanAirAct(1990):
findthatrefrigerantsinairconditionersweredepletingozonelayer.
EPApressuredchemicalcompaniestofindalternative
EqualEmploymentOpportunitiesCommission:
createdbythe1964CivilRightsAct,
enforceantidiscriminationlawsoftheUnitedStates.
Affirmativeaction
forminorities,bringsuitsincasesofracialandsexualdiscrimination,
hassupportfromEEOCinitiallybutthennotanymore

V.

VI.

AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct:
headoftheEEOCalsoenforcethisact.Controversial
becauseitrequirestaxpayermoneyandonlysomewillbenefitfromit.IfEEOCconflict
withpresidentialpolicy,theEEOCheadhasaproblem.
EndangeredSpeciesAct:
allconstructionmustpublishenvironmentalimpactstatements.
EPAcanprohibitprojectsifendangerspeciesareaffected.
A. Tennesseedamcase:
EPAbanaprojectthatcanaffectsnaildarterfish,but
Congressopposed.
B. Congressamended
theEndangeredSpeciesActtoallowexemptions